330 Rev. T. Leishman on Customs and Superstitions. 



Hipparchia Semele, Minto 

 Crags. H. Janira. H. 

 Hyperanthus, very abund- 

 ant about Cavers, &c. 



Erehia Blandina. SeotcKEing- 

 let, very abundant on 

 Minto Crags, &c. 



Ccenonympha Pamphilus. 



Nemeobius Lucina. (TlieDuke) 

 foot of Euberslaw. 



Argy7ims Laihonia. Minto. 



Melitcea Artemis. Swarms on 

 one or two heatlis near 

 N ewlands and Linthill. 



Chrysophanus Phlceas. 



Polyommatus Alsus. (Bedford 

 Blue), uplands near Ha- 

 wick. P.Alexis. P.Arta- 

 xerxes. Hills around 

 Hawick, abundant. 



Illustrations of Ancient Customs and Superstitions, extracted 

 from the Records of the Preshytenj of Kelso, 1609 — 1687. 

 By the Rev. Thc mas Leishman, of Linton. 



The four manuscript volumes from which the following 

 extracts are taken belong to a class of records whose value 

 has never been sufficiently recognised. The common opinion 

 is, that they are of no interest except to the ecclesiastical 

 antiquary. If it were so, they would hardly come within 

 the range of subjects open to the investigation of our club. 

 But a very little study of them shows that they cast innumer- 

 able side-lights on other fields of enquiry. They abound in 

 picturesque details, illustrative of the manners, speech, occu- 

 pations, and amusements of our forefathers, and in facts for 

 which the genealogist or local historian may search else- 

 where in vain. It is to be regretted, that out of nearly a 

 hundred sets of such records preserved throughout Scotland, 

 scarcely a tenth have been protected from the risks of acci- 

 dent or decay by having their more valuable contents printed. 

 The Kelso Records extend, in nearly unbroken continuity, 

 from the year 1609 to the present day. For it may be neces- 

 sary to remind you, that the inferior church courts of Scotland 

 had their forms and constitution little afiected by changes in 

 church government. Whether bishop or assembly ruled, the 

 parochial clergy met regularly in presbytery, to discuss theo- 

 logy at the exercise, to administer discipline, and enforce the 

 duties and rights of the Kirk within their bounds. The most 

 marked distinction between the two periods is, that the 

 minutes are fuller in Presbyterian than in Episcopal times. 

 The object of this paper is to bring before you one particular 

 class of extracts. But first let me show, by a few examples, 

 what material of more varied interest is to be found embedded 

 among the details of ecclesiastical processes, which fill most 

 of there mouldering pages. 



